Raymond Shorten sentenced to 13 years in prison for child rape

Taxi driver Raymond Shorten was sentenced to 13 years in prison for raping a young girl over a decade ago.

After an eight-day trial in May, Shorten was found guilty of raping the child on two separate occasions when she was seven and eight years old respectively.

He knew her family and the first rape occurred shortly after her mother’s funeral.

Shorten was also convicted of sexually abusing her daughter in his car.

In considering an appropriate sentence for the father of seven children, the judge said there were few grounds to mitigate his misconduct.

He said he abused the victim despite knowing she was very vulnerable and had no regard for the long-term pain and suffering he caused her.

Later in the day, another judge will sentence Shorten for the rape of two female passengers in the back seat of his taxi and decide whether that sentence will run parallel or after the sentence he received today for the abuse of the young girl.

Anyone affected by sexual violence can contact the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre free of charge 24 hours a day via the hotline on 1800 77 8888.

Victims of child abuse can also contact One in Four on 01 66 24070.

Main image: 50-year-old Raymond Shorten of Melrose Crescent in Clondalkin. Image: Facebook